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Skin Whitening

 As millions of Africans buy into the wealth, culture and, increasingly, the skin color of Western society, is Africa in the midst of an identity crisis? The growing preference for white skin is not merely one of choice or aesthetics, but seems to grow from self-doubt and the lingering confusions of post-colonial identity. One female student in Accra explained to Think Africa Press: “Ghanaians are naturally dark, so if you’re fair people think you’re prettier, special. And most men would prefer to marry a fair woman”.

Skin-lightening creams contain dangerous and toxic substances such as hydroquinone, mercury compounds, and topical steroids, which are capable of leading to kidney failure, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and even death. Despite these dangers, however, skin-lightening, or bleaching, has reached epidemic levels in many African nations. Increasing numbers of adult women are engaging in the practice and many have even begun to bleach their children’s skin.

Ironically, the vast majority of those who use skin-lightening products deny doing so. Indeed, shame and self-denial surround the practice. There is a marked difference between those who are naturally fair, and others who have created it by a bottle; in the unforgiving African sun, these differences can be all the more apparent. After prolonged use, one common tell-tale sign is patches of ochronosis, a blue-black discoloration of the skin. Easily spotted on the cheek bones, it is aptly referred to in Twi as nansoben: “who told you to do it?”

Despite a desperate need for governments to denounce skin-lightening, intervention has only recently occurred because of the obvious health implications of using skin-whiteners. Hydroquinone (a proven cancer causing agent) may be banned in South Africa, the Gambia, Kenya and Ghana with calls for the same in Zambia and Senegal to name a few, but brazenly the market still booms.

Education has a vital role to play in eradicating the absurdity which underpins these beliefs, but social constraints have the majority of Africans trapped. It has been 30 years since the last colonial flag was taken down, but lasting damage had perhaps already been done. Eleanor Roosevelt was once quoted as saying “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent”, but with multinational companies like L’Oreal and Unilever reaping the benefits of the skin-lightening phenomena, the likelihood of self-acceptance slips further away.

Think Africa Press

I. READING COMPREHENSION (8 marks)

A. Information transfer: Give three (3) reasons and three (3) disadvantages of skin lightening (3 marks)

B. Are these statements true or false? Justify by quoting from the text (3 marks)

1. The greater part of women using skin-lightening products does not recognize their acts.

Justification:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Women apply skin-lightening creams on themselves only.

Justification:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. Some men’s penchant can lead women to bleach their skin.

Justification:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

C. Vocabulary in context (2 marks)

1. Synonyms: Find equivalents of the following words in the text.

Probability (p.5): …………………….……………

Intolerant (p.3): ……………………………….

2. Antonyms: Find the opposites of the following words in the text.

Indulgence (p.3): .............................................

Accepted (p. 4): ...........................................

II. LINGUISTIC COMPETENCE (7 marks)

D. Error Identification and correction: Identify the errors in the following sentences then correct them. (2 marks)

1. No women cannot deny using skin bleachers at least once, can’t she?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. If only I could change my skin color, I would have do it.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

E. Discourse connectors: Use the words and phrases to complete the sentences meaningfully. Each item has to be used only once. (1.5 mark)

(Consequently-even if-in order to-despite)

Many women are using skin-lightening products…………………………being aware of the dangers. …………………………….they are exposing themselves to dangerous and deadly diseases. Authorities should take appropriate measures………………………it will be difficult to cope with.

F. Sentence rewriting: Rewrite the sentences correctly using the prompts given. (2 marks)

1. If you don’t have a light skin, many rich men won’t consider you.

Unless………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. She couldn’t have been recognized because of skin-lightening.

They……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

G. Notions and Functions: Match sentences with the appropriate function. (1.5 marks)

(Suggestion-advice-absence of necessity-preference)

III. WRITING: Choose only one (1) topic (5 marks)

Topic 1: Eleanor Roosevelt said: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent” discuss this quotation.

Topic 2: Nowadays, many women tempt to use whitening products. According to you what may encourage them in doing it.